How do I cut an L-shape from a wall tile

chickmug

To go around a built in fan in the bathroom I needed to cut differing sized bits from each of four 150 x 150 wall tiles. On the two with the small bits being cut out my tile saw was easy. BUT when I tried cutting the bigger bits from the other two tiles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! One cut was easy but when I cut the second line and was near to the point of the first cut the tiles just kept cracking digonally in the wrong place.

Any tips but I am not keen on getting electric tile saw as I am told they are noisy, make a lot of dust and just one more DIY bit of kit too much for my tool cupboard.

Raksha

I think I'd cut the tile in two, then cut one of the pieces in two again - hope that makes sense.....

real1314

Last time I tried this without a tile cutting machine, I scribed the two lines very carefully and then got a pair of snip pliers and "chipped" the tile away bit by bit. Iirc I probably managed to lose less than 1 in 5 tiles doing it this way. It's a pretty crude method but it worked for me.

andrew-b

Electric tile cutter IS the answer for these sort of complex cuts. An electric tile cutter was by far the best investment in tools i've made yet. They aren't that noisy...no more so really than any power tool, don't make much dust because they use water to keep the tile and blade cool (though you will get wet if you cut tiles without the protective guard down - been there and done that and worn the wet t-shirt!). Admittedly you won't use it much again...could always ebay it after use i suppose!

If you do get one though get one with a metal table - the Plasplugs one is a pain cleaning and the red plastic bits on the yellow fence snap easily (at least mine did!).

For straight cuts on flat tiles they are slower than using a standard tile cutter ( as in guillotine sort with push handle to score and then snap tile) but it's the complex cuts they really come into their own.

Andy

Greatgimp

You can buy a tile blade that fits in a standard hacksaw, or a junior hacksaw as here.

Easy!

Canucklehead

Good afternoon: The OH uses a junior hacksaw, tile nippers, tile file , electric tile cutter and a range of tile drills...depends on the type of tile and the complexity of the cut...but as Greatgimp suggested junior h.s. will do the business and is a inexpensive solution.

HTH

Canucklehead

wallbash

Don't suppose you have an angle grinder?

chickmug

Raksha wrote: »

I think I'd cut the tile in two, then cut one of the pieces in two again - hope that makes sense.....

It may be that I will need to do that! Yes makes sense thanks

chickmug

wallbash wrote: »

Don't suppose you have an angle grinder?

Nope afraid not

Plasticman

My tile saw was one of the best power tools I've bought! It's earned it's keep - two bathrooms and a kitchen for me and a three kitchens when on loan to other people in the family! Not too noisy, a bit dusty (and wet!) but I have mostly used it outside.

wallbash

Would agree a wet tile saw is great BUT we have to work with wot we/you got!
Raksha idea is simple, but not ideal , Could be that when you are using the tile saw for the 2nd , its the vibrations that cause the premature cracking. Support the tile.